About the WTO
Undisclosed information, unfair competition and anti-competitive practices
This chapter deals with the provisions of the TRIPS Agreement that set out standards for protection of undisclosed information, including test data (Article 39 of Section 7 in Part II of the Agreement) and measures for the control of anti-competitive practices in licences (Article 40 of Part II of the TRIPS Agreement). It also deals with the suppression of unfair competition, a matter which is specifically referred to in Articles 22 (relating to protection of geographical indications) and 39 (relating to protection of undisclosed information), and also arises through the reference in Article 2 of the TRIPS Agreement to the Paris Convention: Article 10bis of that convention sets out general standards for the suppression of unfair competition. As for all sections of Part II, these sections have to be read together with the relevant provisions of pre-existing treaties in the area of international IP law, which are incorporated by reference into the TRIPS Agreement. Reference will be made to these treaties in the sections below. This chapter will also have to be read in conjunction with other relevant provisions of the TRIPS Agreement explained in other chapters (such as concerning non-discrimination, enforcement of IP rights and the administration of IP). Wherever appropriate, cross-references are made to other chapters.
Comercio de servicios
Las tecnologías de la información y las comunicaciones (TIC) ocuparon un lugar destacado en la labor del Consejo del Comercio de Servicios en 2011. Los debates se centraron en el comercio electrónico y los servicios de telefonía móvil en itinerancia internacional. El Consejo concluyó el tercer examen de las exenciones del trato de nación más favorecida (NMF), y prosiguió el examen de sectores de servicios y modos de suministro específicos, sobre la base de notas de antecedentes elaboradas por la Secretaría de la OMC.
Industrial designs and layout-designs of integrated circuits
This chapter deals with the provisions of the TRIPS Agreement that set out standards for protection of industrial designs (Articles 25 and 26 in Section 4 of Part II of the Agreement) and protection of layout-designs or topographies of integrated circuits (Articles 35 to 38 in Section 6 of Part II). As for all sections of Part II, these sections have to be read together with the relevant provisions of pre-existing treaties in the area of international IP law, which are incorporated by reference into the TRIPS Agreement. Reference will be made to these treaties in the sections below. This chapter will also have to be read in conjunction with other relevant provisions of the TRIPS Agreement that are explained in other chapters (such as those concerning non-discrimination, enforcement of IP rights, and the administration of IP). Wherever appropriate, cross-references are made to other chapters.
Building a trade organization – strengthening the institutional foundations for global trade cooperation
The WTO was created in 1995 in part to place a newly expanded multilateral trading system – the result of the far-reaching Uruguay Round of trade negotiations – on a more secure and permanent institutional foundation. In certain ways, the new institution did not differ dramatically from the GATT that it replaced. The WTO occupied the same headquarters in Geneva, the size of the Secretariat grew only modestly and the Director- General of the GATT became the Director-General of the WTO. The day-to-day work of the WTO – like the GATT – was carried out by member delegations in Geneva, trade officials in national capitals and the WTO Secretariat itself. More fundamentally, the WTO remained an intergovernmental, "memberdriven" organization whose core function was to oversee and administer trade agreements negotiated among sovereign members.
Regional trade agreements
In 2009, 37 new notifications on regional trade agreements (RTAs) (which include bilateral and inter-regional free trade agreements) were received by the WTO. This is the largest number of RTA notifications in any single year since the WTO’s establishment in 1995. Of the 457 RTAs notified to the WTO as of 31 December 2009, 266 were in force.
Órgano de Apelación
En 2011 se presentaron ante el Órgano de Apelación nueve apelaciones de informes de grupos especiales —un aumento con respecto a las tres de 2010-, de un total de 11 informes para los cuales expiró el plazo de 60 días para la adopción o apelación a lo largo del año. Las nueve apelaciones se referían a procedimientos de grupos especiales iniciales. No se formuló ninguna apelación relativa al cumplimiento de resoluciones y recomendaciones anteriores. En diciembre se nombró a dos nuevos Miembros del Órgano de Apelación.
The WTO at ten: Its multilateral and regional involvements
Before going into the substance of my remarks about the World Trade Organization (WTO) at ten, and its multilateral and regional involvements, I should like to say something about the work I have done at the WTO and what I am doing in my new role at the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).
Understanding the WTO
There are a number of ways of looking at the World Trade Organization. It is an organization for trade opening. It is a forum for governments to negotiate trade agreements. It is a place for them to settle trade disputes. It operates a system of trade rules. It helps developing countries build their trade capacity. Essentially, the WTO is a place where member governments try to sort out the trade problems they face with each other.
How the WTO is structured
The WTO’s top-level decision-making body is the Ministerial Conference, which usually meets every two years.
Cooperación con las instituciones académicas
El Programa de Cátedras OMC presentó una nueva publicación sobre la reducción de los costos del comercio y el crecimiento inclusivo en la Conferencia Anual del Programa de Cátedras OMC celebrada en noviembre. La Junta Consultiva del Programa de Cátedras OMC analizó los logros del programa, que tiene por objeto apoyar las actividades relacionadas con el comercio que realizan universidades en los países en desarrollo, y examinó la forma de velar por su sostenibilidad. En 2016, se llevaron a cabo en el marco del Programa de Apoyo Académico 12 actividades.
Enhanced Integrated Framework
The Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF) for trade-related assistance to least-developed countries (LDC s), which became effectively operational in 2009, made significant progress in 2010 in relation to project delivery, outreach and institution building. By the end of the year the EI F was working with 46 LDC s and one ‘graduated’ country, and the 22 current donors to the multi-donor trust fund had contributed US$ 120 million.
From initiating proceedings to ensuring implementation: The links with the Community legal order
This contribution will not address improvements to the Understanding on Rules and Procedures Governing the Settlement of Disputes (DSU). Instead, it will concentrate on the links between the dispute settlement system of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the legal systems of the European Community and its member states. These links are also of great importance for the functioning and effectiveness of the WTO dispute settlement system.
Commerce et développement
Le Comité du commerce et du développement de l’OMC a continué à travailler principalement sur le lien entre le commerce et le développement. Il a examiné la mise en oeuvre des dispositions relatives au traitement spécial et différencié pour les pays en développement qui figurent dans les Accords et décisions de l’OMC, ainsi que la participation des économies en développement au commerce mondial. Le Comité a aussi continué à mettre en oeuvre le Programme de travail sur le commerce électronique. Parmi les questions clés examinées par le Sous-Comité des pays les moins avancés (PMA) figuraient les activités de renforcement des capacités, l’accès aux marchés pour les PMA et l’assistance technique.
Coopération avec les établissements universitaires
L’OMC a lancé un appel à candidatures pour la phase suivante de son Programme de chaires, qui commencera au début de 2014. La conférence annuelle du Programme a eu lieu et les chaires ont pris part à l’Examen global de l’Aide pour le commerce. En 2013, la coopération de l’OMC avec les établissements d’enseignement supérieur a porté sur la consolidation des projets mis en oeuvre par les universités participant au Programme de chaires. Vingt-neuf activités ont été menées en 2013 dans le but d’aider les établissements universitaires à mettre en oeuvre certains projets et initiatives. Santiago, Chili Université du Chili, Institut d’études internationales
Reflections on the functioning of the Appellate Body
This chapter is neither an academic article for scholars nor a practical guide for practitioners. This is a chapter in which I express some reflections on the operations and functioning of the Appellate Body based on my experience as a member of this body in its early days. It has been almost fifteen years since I left the Appellate Body and many things must have changed. Also, my memories of the experience are becoming a bit blurred. However, I hope that this chapter is of some relevance today.